Johanna Konta hails Wimbledon crowd after epic 'battle' with Donna Vekic

Konta applauds the crowd after a dramatic victory
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Johanna Konta described the gruelling Wimbledon victory over Donna Vekic as one of best matches she has played in, but admitted she had mixed feelings afterwards.

The British No.1 progressed to the third round for the first time after beating Vekic 7-6, 4-6, 10-8 on Centre Court in a match that lasted over three hours in searing heat.

Vekic, the 21-year-old Croatian who beat Konta in the final of Nottingham last month, left the court in tears after the Briton finally broke her serve at the ninth time of asking in the third set, and Konta felt neither player deserved to lose.

"It was definitely one of the most epic matches I have been a part of," Konta said afterwards. "Both myself and Donna played very well.

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"Both of us deserved to win. It was one of those matches where it was going to just be decided at the very last minute.

"I feel very fortunate to have come through that. It was a great battle to be a part of.

"After such a battle, you kind of feel both your own and her emotions, because there wasn't much separating us.

"So because there was so little separation of going either way, I think you almost do end up feeling a little bit of both. I could easily put myself in her shoes and feel what she was feeling.

"I understood what she was feeling, because as players, we have all been in that position, as well."

Wimbledon 2017 - In pictures

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Konta is one of four Brits into the third round at Wimbledon for the first time since 1997, along with Andy Murray, Heather Watson and Aljaz Bedene, and she said: "The reasons for that is because we have got great players.

"I absolutely love playing in front of Brit crowds. It does make it that much more when you get to play at home and to have the home support. Not many players get a home slam, so I feel very fortunate about that.

"The atmosphere out there today spoke for itself and how they lived and died with the match, as well."

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Konta handed cakes to her team before the match and asked if it was a psychological tactic, she said: "That had nothing to do with my psychological state of mind!

“Me handing out cupcakes - it was actually muffins - was because it was the second time I have ever made muffins in my life.

"I was really, really looking forward to trying it out on my guinea pigs! It came back positive, so that has given me much more confidence to search for and make some more creations.

“Maybe not just vanilla, maybe chocolate chip or banana muffins."

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